The F -35 will also cost more for the American Air Force – RTS.CH

It is a negotiation to say the least, which is currently playing in the United States. Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin. Therefore, the American Defense Department discuss in particular the production costs of future F-35, the combat aircraft that equip the American air forces and which Switzerland has decided to buy.

Switzerland is not involved in these nevertheless decisive negotiations on the amount it will have to pay in the end. Moreover, for its F-35. Similarly, This is the rule. In addition, Washington discusses directly with the manufacturer. Therefore, Then with foreign customers.

Negotiations between Lockheed f -35 will also cost and the American defense focus more specifically on production prizes 18 and 19 of the F-35. Meanwhile, The Confederation is concerned with the first chiefs. Moreover, In Lot 19 is eight devices for Switzerland. Therefore, Provided delivery date: 2027.

Increase in production costs for the next F-35 – F -35 will also cost

For these prizes 18 and 19, Washington expects an increase in the bill. Consequently, Including for the devices she will buy for the US Air Force, the Navy and the Marines. In addition, Impossible at this stage to know the extent of the increase. Consequently, On the other hand, the causes of this situation are well known. Similarly, And are similar to those communicated to Switzerland.

“Following high inflation in the United States, people have seen the cost of living increasing. They have increased increases [de salaire]. This. of course, ends up repercussions on [le prix de l’avion]”, Analysis Thursday in the morning of RTS Doug f -35 will also cost Birkey, executive director at the Mitchell Institute for aeronautical and space studies.

“In addition. prices are up on the raw materials market and the F-35 contains a significant amount of titanium that Russia can no longer deliver following its invasion of Ukraine. We must turn to other markets, continues Doug Birkey. Finally significant technical advances have been made recently on the plane. They bring additional improvements.”

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Unlike Switzerland. the upcoming increase in the price of F-35 does not arouse controversy. Probably because for several years already. various official bodies, such as the American Court of Auditors (GAO) or also the Department of Defense itself, anticipate an increase in costs of the F-35. This is shown by several documents from these bodies consulted by the RTS investigation center.

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F-35A orders down for the US Air Force

On the other hand. another point causes more friction between Lockheed Martin and the United States government. Since 2022. the American air forces have bought less from F-35A, the model that Switzerland has chosen: 60 in 2021, 48 in 2022, 44 this year and only 24 for 2026.

These figures are published in the reports of “justification of the acquisitions of the American Air Force”. These are declassified documents established by the Ministry of Defense within the framework f -35 will also cost of its budgetary forecasts.

For Daniel Norton. principal researcher in management systems at Rand, a non -profit organization, there are several reasons for this decrease in order. “Modest discounts like that of the 2025 exercise could make it possible to stabilize the program [d’acquisition]better align purchases on the evolution of the program. take into account the evolution of costs, “said this specialist in the modernization of the air forces.

Wait to get a better plane

“Important reductions. such as that of exercise 2026, may rather be a sign of a change in priorities or dissatisfaction with the program,” said Daniel Norton. And the researcher list some of the pitfalls that the Air Force is confronted with the Lockheed plane.

“Some components of the plane are not available. some [améliorations] were not made and finished. According to the American Court of Auditors. the vast majority of the engines of the plane have not been delivered on time, “added Rand researcher.

“The plane is also confronted with significant availability problems. Plans have never managed to reach the operational capacity rates of previous aircraft. This has been a permanent challenge, for years and even today,” insists Daniel Norton.

His counterpart Doug Birkey nuance. “The prizes that come out of the production currently are incredibly efficient. Look at what the F-35 of the Israeli army achieved against Iran. They have behaved beautifully in the most f -35 will also cost complex combat environments that can be found on the planet.”

The fact remains that the American defense wants to wait before buying too many devices. to finally obtain the modernizations and improvements required. At this stage. the Trump administration has not yet decided whether this F-35 order reduction strategy would spread over several budgetary years. On paper, Washington has committed to buy more than 2470 devices (any type of F-35 combined) by the 2040s.

Marc Menichini, RTS investigation center